SearchCap: The Day In Search, October 4, 2007

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

• New List: Sites With Most Cumulative Diggs
  This is the week for top lists, it seems. First, we had the Techmeme Leaderboard get launched (and now being debated again), then we got a list of the most mentioned sites on Digg. Now there’s a third one — sites with the most cumulative Diggs. More on both Digg…
• Take SEMPO’s Search Marketing Salary Survey
  SEMPO is conducting a salary survey of in-house search marketing professionals. The survey is open to all in-house SEM professionals, whether or not they are currently SEMPO members. Organic and/or paid-search, in-house professionals are all invited to take the survey. SEMPO plans to compile and publish the results of the…
• Microsoft ‘Unlocks’ HealthVault Search Site And Personal Records Database
  As part of its push into four strategic vertical search segments, Microsoft has unveiled "HealthVault," which aims to be part medical search engine, part repository of personal data and health information that can be selectively disclosed to doctors and other interested parties. Mary Jo Foley has considerable detail on how…
• Google Logo Celebrates Sputnik 50th Anniversary
  Fifty years ago today — October 4, 1957 — Sputnik became the world’s first artificial satellite to go into orbit. Google is celebrating the 50th anniversary with the special logo above. Will other search engines do the same? So far, it’s only Google among the majors. Here’s the full…
• BT Teams With FON To Offer Nationwide WiFi In UK
  British Telecom has invested in FON, the Spanish WiFi provider, and says it will build out a free (to BT customers), UK-wide free WiFi network. MarketWatch reports that "BT’s three million plus Total Broadband customers will be able to join the FON WiFi network, which already provides more than 190,000…
• Black-Hat SEOs Are Worthless, Shady Criminals
  Black hat, white hat, blue hat, new hat… why should anyone care which color hat any search engine optimization (SEO) professional labels him- or herself? This was a question presented to me by one of my colleagues, Bill Slawski at SEO by the Sea, at the last search engine…
• Which Google Products Should a Small Business Use?
  No longer just a search engine, Google has grown rapidly in recent years into a company that now offers a variety of tools and services, many of which are aimed squarely at small business owners. Some of Google’s most compelling services are free, making them even more tempting to…
• Only 50 Tickets Left for SMX Social Media in NYC – Register Today!
  Time and space are running out for you to attend Search Marketing Expo – SMX Social Media in New York City, October 16-17. There are only 50 tickets left for this two-day event covering the most exciting aspect of internet marketing. Register today to reserve your spot. SMX Social Media…
• Raising The Organizational Visibility Of The Search Marketing Function
  The ultimate goal of any in-house search marketer is for search engine marketing to become ingrained in the way a company does business, similar to marketing, advertising, and public relations. It’s rare for search marketing to gain this much visibility, but we are starting to see a few organizations…

Search News From Around The Web:

Business Issues

• Search and the Law: Attorney Deborah Wilcox, Search Engine Watch
• Google attacks Verizon’s attempt to water down 700MHz "open access" rules, Ars Technica

Local, Maps & Mobile

• Ultimate Local Search Optimization Resources, Web Analytics World
• Google LatLong: Google Transit Graduates from Labs, Google LatLong Blog
• Live Search Maps: the best is yet to come, LiveSide
• Would You Rent Your Rooftop to Google To Show Ads Upon?, SEO By The Sea

Link Building

• Link Value: Top Rankings, Secrets and Lies – Part 1, Search Engine Watch
• The "Google Payola" Issue Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon, SEOmoz

Paid Search & Contextual

• Microsoft Doesn’t Allow Ads with the Number "69", Search Engine Roundtable

SEM Industry

• You want to be rich? Then start talking shit!, ShoeMoney
• Yield Software: Google Optimization As A Service, InformationWeek
• Microsoft Joins Google in Offering SEO Services, Is This Ethical?, Search Engine Journal

SEO & SEM

• Google and Spam Link Patterns, Search Engine People
• Remembrance of Spam Past, Portland SEM Professionals Blog

Social Media

• How To Research Your Social Media Campaign, 97th Floor

Video, Music & Image Search

• Pixsy To Power Search On Veoh, TechCrunch
• News Corp warns Google over copyright, Financial Times

Other Items

• 4000 Posts, John Battelle

Hot Items From Sphinn, Our Social News Sharing Site:

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• Convert Color to Black and Whyte…. AND BACK
• The Best Damn On-Page Optimization Process Checklist, Period
• 6 Things That Work Right Now on Reddit